INTRODUCTION

I’m often asked whether the Sasquatch really exists. In 1992, around the time of the publication of Field Guide to the Sasquatch, my initial book on this subject, I’d answer that I was a fence sitter. I would explain that if I said there was no such thing and, shortly thereafter, someone found and photographed the Sasquatch—well, I’d be wrong, wouldn’t I? But, I’d also tell people that I wouldn’t go to court with the evidence we had collected so far. Basically, I’d tell my interlocutors, I could go either way.

More than two decades have passed since that earlier work was released, and my answer to the question has expanded. Now, when people ask if I think there’s something out there—something big and hairy and wild and mysterious—I answer, “I really don’t know. You tell me.”

So my stance hasn’t changed all that much—I’m still divided on the status, real or imagined, of what could very well be the most sensational being on the North American continent. However, my stance on the implications of the question, and how it will be answered, has changed. Now I feel that the responsibility for solving this long-standing mystery rests on the shoulders of all of us: you, the readers of this book, and all who work together to discover the truth.

If this riddle is ever answered, it won’t, in all probability, happen because some fortunate soul manages to follow this creature’s footsteps back to its forested lair. Believe me, many skilled individuals and, in several instances, entire teams of experts, have tried to do just that and have returned with precious little to show for it. Perhaps that’s because there’s too much unexplored terrain in the Pacific Northwest for one person or group of people to cover. Or maybe the Sasquatch is too evasive for even these experienced individuals to find on their own.

But what if we could combine the efforts of several thousand people trained in reconnaissance, skilled in the techniques of field biology, and equipped with the necessary gear to work on this case? What if we harnessed the power of large groups of people working together to solve problems? I maintain it will take no less than that—thousands of pairs of eyes and ears, collectively gathering and sharing information that can further our understanding and, ultimately, lead us to this mysterious mammal, if indeed that’s what it is.

That’s where you—and this field manual—come in.

This book is divided into three major sections. The first part lays out the basics about the Sasquatch, offering an overview of what we know so far, the creature’s probable basic biology, life history, and place in cultures and belief systems from around the world. Along the way, it also introduces the tenets of citizen science, the rules governing the naming of animals and plants, and the relatively new science of cryptozoology.

The second part of this book contains information on mounting a Sasquatch search. It also explains the standard operating procedures, or protocols, for amassing evidence from fieldwork and sharing it with scientists and other Sasquatch seekers.

The final part includes a selection of suitable locations for day hikes that take you into some of the prime Sasquatch-searching territory in British Columbia, Washington (two areas), Oregon, and California. These five sites were selected because of their significance in Sasquatch lore; they may well be the best places for finding important evidence or even seeing the creature firsthand in the wild. They are areas where people have had close encounters in the past or where a record of Sasquatch sightings exists. I must admit that I also chose these spots for their entertainment value: there’s a good yarn connected with each of the sites—which you can use to inspire your hiking companions as they ready themselves for a long and, hopefully, productive day of Sasquatch seeking.